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Sarah, a business manager for a company in Manchester, said: “We have always been very close, I absolutely adore him.

“He was very happy when we were engaged, so we thought it would be a happy thing for him to look forward to.

“He took his responsibility very seriously, and he has told my husband that I am his responsibility now.

“I could not be more proud of him. He has dealt with a lot as a war hero, and personally also.

“It’s difficult to see him as much as I would like, because we live so far from each other.

“When I do see him we just sit holding hands. He likes holding hands, as he says lots of people don’t like to touch old people.

MERCURY

The 101-year-old Second World War hero made his granddaughter’s dream come true

I could not be more proud of him

Sarah Morson

“I think when you are as old as he is you have good perspective, and he is fully aware that I adore him, and he loves me too.”

Mr MacLean was parachuted into Normandy for the D-Day landings. He said he wasn’t scared and even met his brother, Ian, on a beach two days later.

He had wanted to become a pilot, but was unable to when it was discovered he was colour-blind.

Sarah, who married aerospace engineer Sean at Holy Trinity Church in Whitfield, Northumberland, said: “His family were very religious and he remembers that no one wrote to him because they didn’t believe in people joining up to the army to fight.”

Born on the Isle of Skye, Mr MacLean moved to Edinburgh when he was a child and has lived there most of his life.

He received the Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star, from the French, for organising fire-fighting parties at an ammunition dump at great risk to himself.

Sarah said: “He is very proud of his military career, and attends memorial services whenever he can.

“He has spent time with Eddie Izzard in Normandy, and he remembers that my Granny was thrilled because he gave her a kiss.”

After leaving the Army Mr MacLean went to medical school and became a GP.

He dreams of returning to Normandy for one last visit, but he enjoys living in his retirement flat, and going for a pint every once in a while.

The image of him with Sarah on her wedding day, earlier this month, was shared on online on Facebook group Armed Forces Discount, and has since been shared by the likes of comedian John Bishop.